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Common problems to look out after purchasing 2017 Macbook Pro?
- Thread starter HerbertDerb
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Pricing isn't that much of a difference. If you're looking on Apple's US site then yes, it looks cheap. But remember that in the EU taxes are added onto sale price, not in the US (How many people actually pay that tax is another matter).
Also really depends where in the world you are and where you're looking, due to currency differences. Comparing top models, US is $2,799, in CN it's 22,288 (Which is $3,300) in dollars. However in UK it's £2,699, and CN-GB is £2,534 ($3,300). It's complicated, but basically looking from the UK at China prices you'd say "Oh it's £150 cheaper!", in reality it's the same price. And given the economic differences, in real terms it's significantly more expensive.
Now I have no idea on the tax system the US uses (Do they know? There's a gentleman talking about it a lot lately), but I know things are calculated at the end of the year and it's complicated. Call it 17.5% by the time all the calculations are done, and you end up with $3,300.
So always remember US doesn't add tax at point of sale. Pretty much everyone else does, that tax is useful, pays for things like healthcare
.Yeah so don't get mad, don't dwell so much on pricing, it's all adjusted all over the world and by the time you get down to the bottom of it, it's pretty much the same price wherever you are. It's actually much cheaper than it used to be given the same price point over the last decade and inflation adjustments. And it's probably cheaper for you to buy in a (I'm guessing) wealthy EU nation with high salary than it is for someone elsewhere.
In the US, taxes are added when the item is sold. However, the tax rate is set by each of the states and county, and can vary from 10% to 0% of the purchase price. It is also possible to buy things from another state and pay no taxes since the place in the other state does not have brick and mortar stores or other operations in the buyer's state.
For example, I live in California and if I go to my local Apple Store I pay the price plus 9.75% sales tax before I leave the store. If I buy online from B&H in New York I pay no tax (actual we are supposed to, but ...). However, if I buy from Amazon I pay the same 9.75% tax since Amazon has distribution centers in California.
No wonder your 'infrastructure is crumbling' with the way US does tax
. Thanks for clearing that up, never been too sure on how it works in US other than a tendency to avoid.
Yes, if you buy from a place that doesn't charge sales tax, you are supposed to file a tax statement and pay state sales taxes. Many people don't do that, then wonder why their roads suck, schools have no money, and look, property taxes are going up again.No wonder your 'infrastructure is crumbling' with the way US does tax
What many people seem to not consider as well is the cost of added consumer protections in different countries. Some countries force Apple to provide a stock 2 year warranty which will cost more than the US' stock 1 year warranty.
One Euro country just ruled recently that refurbished devices cannot be used to replace a defective device, the customer must receive a brand new device. That's going to raise the purchase price in that country.
I didn't know this at all. But yeah, the prices make sense now in the EU area... (I always assumed that when something is 2999$, then it's 2999$ including tax...)
Thanks for this info
And the Euro country you mean is Dutch....?
I believe it was the Netherlands, but I can't find the article so that's why I said Euro country. MacRumors had an article about it earlier this year I believe.
Was Holland I think, possibly Denmark. It wasn't an EU court though so should only affect that country. But your point on warranties is another valid reason. Either way Apple don't really charge different amounts in different countries, prices may be cheaper here or there but it's usually within a couple of percent.
No wonder your 'infrastructure is crumbling' with the way US does tax
There is still federal income tax and some states have income tax. And here in California we are the world's 5th or 6th largest economy, our state GDP is larger than Russia's. And IMHO, most of the issues with infrastructure have more to do with how the money is spent, versus how much is collected.
'Twas a bit of jokey banter there, hence the quotes. Far more complicated than tax collection, obviously.